A trio from Bronx, NY were arrested by Greenwich Police on July 7 for alleged financial crimes at a bank on Greenwich Avenue. Police say that around 12:30pm officers responded to a report of a fraudulent transaction in progress.
Bike patrol officers and plain clothes officers detained and identified Angel Velez, 35, Austin V Pickering, 26, and Christopher George Barrett, 33.
Investigation revealed that Velez conspired with Pickering and Barrett to use a fraudulent CT driver’s license, a photocopy of a Social Security Card and a Secretary of State of CT Acceptance notice with personal identifying information of the victim, to attempt to open a business account in the victim’s name.
A search incident to the arrest revealed that Velez was in possession of a used syringe that he said was used to administer narcotics.
Velez was charged with: Use of Drug Paraphernalia, Identity Theft 3,Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft 3, Criminal Impersonation, Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Impersonation, Forgery 2 (2 counts), Conspiracy to Commit Forgery 2 (2 counts), Forgery 3 (3 counts), and Conspiracy to Commit Forgery 3 (3 counts).
Pickering was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft 3, Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Impersonation, Conspiracy to Commit Forgery 2 (2 counts) and Conspiracy to Commit Forgery 3 (3 counts).
As for Mr. Barrett, Police said that there were additional fraudulent documents in his vehicle, including a Maryland driver’s license and credit/debit card in another victim’s name.
Additionally his car was not registered, was uninsured and plates were misused.
He was charged with Operating an Unregistered Vehicle, Improper use of Plates, Failure to Insure Vehicle, Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft 3, Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Impersonation, Conspiracy to Commit Forgery 2 (2 counts) and Conspiracy to Commit Forgery 3 (3 counts).
Al three men were able to post $10,000 bond and shared a date in Stamford Superior Court on July 22.